Khalil Rountree Jr.

Khalil Rountree Jr. said he unlocked newfound confidence in himself after his admirable showing in his title fight against Alex Pereira last fall. As he was facing another former champion in Jamahal Hill, Khalil put on a striking clinic, earning a wide unanimous decision. He destroyed Hill’s base with leg kicks, which took away Hill’s ability to generate power. Once the danger coming back was lessened, Khalil then started firing combinations up top and knocked Hill down multiple times on his way to the best win of his career.

After he defeated Jan Blachowicz in March, I thought Carlos Ulberg was almost guaranteed to face Jiri Prochazka next. But we are now in June and nothing has been announced on that front. This is a case where fighting styles might determine which direction the promotion goes. Ulberg’s more point-fighting approach could cost him the Prochazka fight since the idea of Prochazka clashing with Rountree Jr.’s style sounds a lot more appealing.

Rountree Jr.’s next fight: Jiri Prochazka

Rafael Fiziev

He had to wait a long time, but “Ataman” finally got his hand raised again. Only three months removed from his war with Justin Gaethje in March, Fiziev this time had to deal with the surging youngster Ignacio Bahamondes in the UFC Baku co-main event. Despite the gigantic height and reach disadvantages, Fiziev earned 30-27s on all three scorecards.

A Mateusz Gamrot rematch or a fight with Benoit Saint Denis are both fine options, but I’m more intrigued in Gamrot fighting the Frenchman. Dan Hooker is also a very fun option, but I still think there’s a chance they simply re-book the Gaethje fight. I believe Fiziev’s next opponent will come from this from upcoming weekend’s fight between Beneil Dariush and Renato Moicano. Fiziev is in a good spot to face the winner of that bout.

Fiziev’s next fight: Dariush/Moicano winner

Curtis Blaydes

This fight was originally scheduled for February, but after multiple delays, Curtis Blaydes and Rizvan Kuniev finally faced off inside the octagon this weekend. Blaydes did get back in the win column, but he didn’t exactly do it via an awe-inspiring performance. He got teed off on on multiple occasions during the fight and narrowly escaped with a split decision. Bouncing back after his quick KO loss to Tom Aspinall last summer was key, but Blaydes will need a better showing than this if he wants to insert himself back in the title picture. Fellow veteran of the game Marcin Tybura is ranked only three spots below Blaydes and has won back-to-back fights. He seems like a prime candidate to face him next.

Blaydes’ next fight: Marcin Tybura

Myktybek Orolbai

The 27-year-old prospect earned a nice submission victory over a very well-respected veteran in Tofiq Musayev, in the latter’s promotional debut at UFC Baku. He might have been making his promotional debut, but hardcore fans know how good Musayev is, so this makes Orolbai’s win all the more impressive coming off his war with Mateusz Rebecki last October.

Orolbai’s previous fight was at a catchweight of 160 lbs, this one was at 165 lbs. He did make the lightweight limit against Elves Brener, but back-to-back catchweight fights tells me it would probably be preferable for Orolbai to simply make the move to welterweight. There are a lot of feasible opponents for him at 170, but I went with Ramiz Brahimaj who is coming off a nasty guillotine choke finish of Billy Ray Goff last month.

Orolbai’s next fight: Ramiz Brahimaj

Nazim Sadykhov

Nazim Sadykhov got his second knockout win of 2025, this one over Nikolas Motta. From veterans like Nasrat Haqparast or Chris Padilla, to younger names like Charlie Campbell and Tom Nolan, the lightweight division isn’t lacking in names that “Black Wolf” could face. I landed on Manuel Torres, in part because I believe the timing could work for the Noche card in September. It’s also a matchup that would guarantee fireworks and would tell us a lot about which prospect to move up the ladder.

Sadykhov’s next fight: Manuel Torres

Muhammad Naimov

Naimov earned 29-28s across the board at UFC Baku to win his second consecutive fight since being upset by the then debuting Felipe Lima a year ago. Now 5-1 in the UFC, the fighter from Tajikistan seems just a couple good performances away from a shot at the rankings. A fighter in a similar position, who is also on a two-fight win streak, is the young Brazilian Gabriel Santos. Since dropping his first two fights to ranked contenders Lerone Murphy and David Onama, Santos has put on encouraging showings in the following two outings. This matchup would determine who gets to inch closer to a ranked name.

Naimov’s next fight: Gabriel Santos

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UFC Baku was the card of the Contender Series fighter as it seemed like most of the losers on the main card were alumni members of the show. The main event of UFC Baku featured a highly anticipated and much delayed showdown between the former UFC light heavyweight champion, Jamahal Hill, and a former title challenger, Khalil Rountree Jr.  Lots of competitive and exciting bouts to make on this edition of losers matchmaker.

Jamahal Hill

Khalil Rountree Jr. dropped Jamahal Hill several times en route to a unanimous decision victory over the former light heavyweight title holder. Jamahal Hill is now on a three-fight losing skid since losing his belt to Alex Pereira in April of last year. Hill entered the fight ranked at #4 in the division while his opponent was ranked at #7.

A fight against Carlos Ulberg, who Hill was matched up against in June of last year, until that fight was cancelled, no longer makes a lot of sense.

However Dominick Reyes would offer a good matchup as the pair share similar lengths, striking styles, and ages.

Reyes is riding a three-fight win streak. Only problem with this matchup is that Reyes last fought in April and it was a first round KO. Reyes is likely looking for a fight right now. So, the timing likely wouldn’t match up unless Reyes would be willing to wait for Hill to heal up. This fight would not only be meaningful but could easily headline a Fight Night card. Guaranteed to be a violent fight as well, with Hill and Reyes both jostling to reestablish their dominance at 205lbs.

Hill’s next fight: Dominick Reyes

Ignacio Bahamondes

Rafael Fiziev dominated Ignacio Bahamondes in all aspects of mixed martial arts on his way to a unanimous decision victory in the co-main event of UFC Baku. Fiziev entered the fight ranked at #11 in the lightweight division while Bahamondes was unranked. Considering the circumstances, maybe it was just a bit too much too soon for the 27-year-old. The loss snapped a three-fight first round bonus-winning streak for Bahamondes. Lots of momentum lost.

Bahamondes has a few options moving forward as the lightweight division is a deep pit of capable fighters. A case could even be made for him to take on Nazim Sadykhov who had an excellent performance earlier on the card. All a matter of how aggressive he/the UFC brass would like to be. A good matchup to kind of regain his footing would be against the winner Chase Hooper vs Alexander Hernandez. Unfortunately, the timing wouldn’t be the greatest for that fight as it’s taking place at UFC 319 on August 16. If Ignacio can swing being on the shelf for a little while, this is the fight to make. 25-year-old Chase Hooper is riding a five-fight win streak including three finishes. Hernandez is coming off of winning two straight. That’s a big fight-especially for Chase.

If there is a big statement made in that fight on the 16th then a fight against a guy like Ignancio, who just tried to break into the rankings, could make sense. This fight could be a co-main event on a Fight Night card or high on the undercard of a PPV. Winner of that would obviously fight for a ranking.

Bahamondes’s next fight: Winner of Chase Hooper vs Alexander Hernandez

Rizvan Kuniev

Curtis Blaydes leaned heavily on his grappling and grit to win a razor-close split decision against Rizvan Kuniev on Saturday. It was quite the UFC debut for Rizvan Kuniev, a two-time Contender Series winner. Blaydes is currently ranked at #5 in the UFC’s heavyweight division, so it was undoubtedly an impressive showing for the unranked and debuting Kuniev. Who definitely had his moments in the fight.

Serghei Spivac would be a good fighter for Kuniev to face next. Serghei is ranked at #9 in the heavyweight division. Spivac last fought at UFC 316 earlier in the month losing a unanimous decision to now #7 ranked, Waldo Cortes-Acosta. Spivac has lost three of his last four fights. This would be an interesting middle of the pack fighter to test the newcomer against.  Kuniev showed on Saturday that while he has capable grappling, he is also a threat on the feet. A matchup against Spivac would give Kuniev another opportunity to display that- as it’s what you need to be successful in today’s heavyweight division.

Kuniev’s next fight: Serghei Spivac 

Tofiq Musayev

Myktybek Orolabi came out with a vicious pace and got the submission finish in the first round against the experienced newcomer in, Tofiq Musayev, at UFC Baku. An eight-fight veteran of the RIZIN promotion, Tofiq defeated Patricky Pitbull in 2019 to win the RIZIN lightweight grand prix.

Even at 35 years old, and despite the outcome of his debut, Tofiq needs to be given competitive matchups because of his history and record (22-6). A solid litmus test could be a matchup against Uros Medic. Uros is 4-3 with the UFC since coming off the Contender Series in 2020. Medic has lost two of his last three and had a fight against Khaos Willimas cancelled on June 7. The timing could work on this as Khaos went ahead and fought on the 7th. Medic was also submitted by Orolbai in the second round of their bout in 2023. Uros is a very fun striker that has never heard the final bell, win or lose, in any of his pro MMA fights. This would be a fun one for fans, and good to establish a little bit of UFC clout in an extremely crowded division.

Musayev’s next fight: Uros Medic

Nikolas Motta

Nikolas Motta and Nazim Sadykhov put on an exciting back and forth fight that ended with Motta getting folded on Saturday. The bout won all the bonus money for UFC Baku. Motta is now 3-3, 1 NC within the UFC since being signed off the Contender Series in 2020.

Let’s keep the good times rolling with Motta and give him another fun matchup. He will undoubtedly need some time to recover after that fight, so timing is of the essence for this matchup. The winner of Terrance McKinney vs Viacheslav Borschev could be a solid option. Those two are scheduled to complete on June 28 at UFC 317, so that’s one box checked (timing). McKinney is 6-4 with the UFC, a Contender Series alum, and has won two of his last three. Win or lose, McKinney has never heard the final horn sound for the duration of his UFC career. Borshchev is 3-4-1 in the UFC and an alumnus of the Contender Series. Viacheslav has lost two of his last three but always bring a high action, high output fight style.

No matter who wins here, the fight against Motta is an easy potential fight of the night. Could be on the main card of a fight night card as well.

Motta’s next fight: Winner of Terrance McKinney vs. Viacheslav Borshchev

Bogdan Grad

Bogdan Grad fell to Muhammad Naimov by way of unanimous decision to kick off the main card of UFC Baku, Saturday. Grad is a two-time Contender Series competitor that made his UFC debut in February of this year with a bonus-winning finish over Lucas Alexander. Grad is now 1-1 with the promotion.

A good matchup for Grad would be against the loser of Danny Silva vs Kevin Vallejos. That fight goes down on August 2 so the timing wouldn’t be too bad. Silva is also a former Contender Series competitor that has gone 2-0 within the UFC. Danny was last in action on March 1 with his split decision win over Lucas Almedia. Kevin is also a two-time Contender Series competitor and won his UFC debut in March with his first-round stoppage of Seung Woo Choi. Whoever loses this bout will have their first UFC loss just like Grad as well as having a similar path and timeline. Makes sense to pair them up.

Grad’s next fight: Loser of Danny Silva vs Kevin Vallejos

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Just two fights on the 12-fight card ended inside the distance, taking the wind out of the sails in what was the UFC’s debut in Azerbaijan.

Still, two finishes seemed like they would be a lock for Performance of the Night bonuses. Nazim Sadykhov knocked out Nikolas Motta, after all, and Myktybek Orolbai submitted Azerbaijan’s own Tofiq Musayev.

But just hold up a moment there. Orolbai’s fight with Musayev had been shifted to a catchweight shortly ahead of weigh-ins, though neither man officially missed weight, and no explanation was given. Still, rather than grant Orolbai a bonus, UFC officials instead awarded Performance of the Night bonuses to both Nazim Sadykhov and, surprisingly, Nikolas Motta as well.

Since the pair also shared in the Fight of the Night bonus, that means both men doubled up on bonus money at UFC Baku. $100,000 U.S. will now go to each, on top of their show (and win money, in the case of Sadykhov), outfitting pay, and any other discretionary bonuses.

For Sadykhov, the double bonuses means he has four post-fight awards in five UFC outings. An Azerbaijani living in Brooklyn, Black Wolf is 4-0-1 since arriving in the promotion by way of Dana White’s Contender Series.

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Jamahal Hill, the former 205lb champ who had vacated his title due to injury, was looking to snap a two-fight skid in the bout, after being finished by both Alex Pereira and Jiri Prochazka. Khalil Rountree Jr. was on the other side of the main event equation, and looking to bounce back from his own loss to Pereira.

There was no glove touch to kick off the final fight of the evening at the Baku Crystal Hall, a fight that had been scheduled twice before. Instead, the pair had one last staredown, then met at center. Sort of. Rountree actually sauntered out at a slow pace, working in a bit of mental warfare and allowing Hill to meet him more than halfway across the cage.

Still, the opening minute saw little more than a strike thrown, with Hill finally opening up the action with a leg kick. Instead, it was feints and foot movement as the pair felt each other out. Rountree would eventually work in a leg kick or two of his own; his lead right was there also, connecting on Hill later in the frame. The pair started firing a little harder in the final two minutes of the first round; Rountree nearly took Hill off his feet with a particularly nasty calf kick. While both men were finding some success with their hands, Rountree appeared to be landing the harder leg kicks, though Hill might have technically landed more.

More leg kicks from Khalil Rountree Jr. arrived early in the second round. He mixed in a jab to the body; the next leg kick did trip up Hill. Hill was switching stances, but looked flatfooted in general. Hill did rip off a couple of kicks of his own, but again the answer from Rountree was harder, landing with far more authority. When he wasn’t bludgeoning Hill’s legs, Rountree was circling away from the former champ.

Entering the final minute of the second frame, Rountree slipped off a high kick, allowing Hill to catch him with a right hand on the way up. That, however, was the most success Hill had seen in the round. And once up, Rountree went right after his lead leg again.

Jamahal Hill had ice applied to his legs between rounds, and was switching stances early in the third. When he did move in, Rountree loaded up on an overhand that fanned. The issue for Hill was clearly one of mobility; he was moving awkwardly whenever the action picked up.

Another leg kick landed for Rountree; moments later, a left hand put Hill on his backside! Hill was right back up, but the visual was not a good one for “Sweet Dreams.” The pace in the back half of the third round had slowed, however. Rountree ripped the body with a kick, then went lower with a calf kick. The swelling on the side of Hill’s right calf muscle was nothing short of impressive. In the final minute, Rountree dropped Hill for a second time in the round, this time with a right hook. Hill limped back to his corner after the horn, unquestionably down in the fight.

Round four, for Hill, opened with two possibilities: At best, he was down 2-1, otherwise, he was looking at a goose egg, with Rountree winning all three. With no open scoring, Hill would have to work with the assumption that he needed a finish. Yet with his mobility hampered and Khalil landing some big shots, the odds weren’t exactly in Hill’s favor. Case in point, a two-punch combo, starting with a body shot, sent Hill reeling, almost knocking him down. Rountree picked things up again at round’s end, putting Hill on his heels.

The final round saw Hill, with certainty, needing a stoppage. Yet Rountree had yet to be truly rocked, and hadn’t even been hit all that much. In the opening minute, it was Rountree moving in on the attack, backing Hill up. Hill simply wasn’t putting combinations together, instead firing jabs, and only occasionally trailing them with anything. With the clock now becoming a factor, it was time for Jamahal Hill to pull the goalie and go on a full-fledged attack. Leg compromised, however, Hill appeared to struggle to close the distance, and when he did, he hand to contend with the nasty overhands Rountree was firing his way. Hill would stay in the fight to the end, but he never felt like he was really in the fight.

Official Result: Khalil Rountree Jr. def. Jamahal Hill by unanimous decision (49-46, 50-45, 50-45)

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#11 Fiziev (12-4) takes the co-main event slot in his father’s home country of Azerbaijan in the UFC’s first event there. After putting together an impressive 6-fight win streak with victories over the likes of Rafael dos Anjos, Brad Riddell, King Green and Renato Moicano his luck has soured.

He came into the Bahamondes fight on 3-fight skid with losses to Justin Gaethje and Mateusz Gamrot. The losses aren’t terrible with both Gaethje and Gamrot considered title contenders, but a loss to the up-and-coming Bahamondes would certainly bruise those title hopes.

Bahamondes (17-5) has put together a solid 6-2 record in the UFC and came into the bout on a three-fight win streak. An impressive submission victory over Jalin Turner at UFC 313 scored him the Fiziev fight in the co-main event at UFC Baku.

Round 1 Bahamondes worked to use that front kick to the lead leg to keep Fiziev at bay. Early on Bahamondes had trouble getting the range with Fiziev using kicks and rushing him a bit.

Near the 2 minute mark Bahamondes finally attacked causing a furious exchange where Fiziev landed most of the damage to the body. Both men changed stances repeatedly looking for an advantage.

Coming to the end of the round Bahamondes landed a spinning side kick to the body, Fiziev a right hand and Bahamondes tried an axe kick before time ran out.

Round 2 Bahamondes came out using his length with kicks and 1-2s. Then shot in for a takedown but Fiziev has solid takedown defense. Nothing came of it besides some fun elbows fired up by Bahamondes.

Another takedown attempt for Bahamondes produced nothing. Bahamondes got busy with the flashy spinning kick attacks which Fiziev avoided like he was in The Matrix. Fiziev worked some combos one which was countered by Bahamondes landing a head kick.

Fiziev had enough and flew in for a takedown and got it. Got back to his feet and worked some kicks to the legs before shooting and scoring a takedown again. Bahamondes seemed to grab a guillotine position but he quickly lost it.

The round ended with Fiziev dropping Bahamondes with a right hand at the horn.

Round 3 Bahamondes came out with the urgency firing off combinations and putting pressure on Fiziev. This entire fight Fiziev waited for Bahamondes to make a move and then countered which hasn’t worked well for his opponent.

Bahamondes put himself in danger to land and it began to pay off near the 3 minute mark landing two clean 1-2 combinations on Fiziev. Bahamondes shot in for a takedown, pulled guard instead, Fiziev didn’t comply. When Bahamondes stood up Fiziev fired off a nasty combo on him.

Bahamondes clinched Fiziev, pushed him to the fence looking for a takedown, but again just couldn’t get it. With Fiziev likely up 2-0 the time for wrestling may have already come and gone.

Fiziev had enough of the flurries and shot in for an easy takedown. The fight ended there on the ground.

Official Result: Rafael Fiziev def. Ignacio Bahamondes via Unanimous Decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)

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That’s exactly the kind of opponent Kuniev, a Dagestani standout with two wins on the Contender Series, had been asking for. Kuniev had even earned a win over PFL star Renan Ferreira, until it was overturned when he failed a drug test.

Blaydes wasted no time, shooting in for a powerful double leg and securing the early takedown to kick off his UFC Baku main card fight. Kuniev quickly scrambled back to his feet, but Blaydes maintained control with a strong body lock against the cage. There wasn’t much offense, but Blaydes racked up significant control time. Kuniev struggled to break free, as each of his attempts to move was matched step-for-step by Blaydes. Eventually, Kuniev managed to create separation, though he appeared wary of another takedown. In the final moments of the round, Kuniev began to inch forward behind his punches while Blaydes moved his head defensively and shot for a single leg just before the horn.

Round two opened with Blaydes shooting again, but Kuniev shrugged it off. Blaydes looked to capitalize on Kuniev’s leg kicks with reactive shots, but couldn’t convert. Kuniev started to find his rhythm, doubling up the jab and landing a clean straight right. That was easily the most significant strike of the fight to that point. He looked like the more polished striker at range, while Blaydes was upright, predictable, and not showing much in the way of feints. Though Blaydes eventually timed a couple of decent entries, his attempts at takedowns were stuffed. Kuniev looked settled and confident, defending everything well and beginning to mark up Blaydes’ face with sharp strikes.

Entering round three, the fight appeared even at one round apiece. Early on, Kuniev timed a well-placed knee as Blaydes came forward. Blaydes, clearly frustrated and getting picked apart on the feet, became more desperate in his pursuit of a takedown. But even when he got deep on Kuniev’s legs, he couldn’t finish. Kuniev remained upright, defended cleanly, and continued landing the more effective shots down the stretch.

Come the scorecards, it was a split decision, and the eighth decision of the card to that point.

Official Result: Curtis Blaydes def. Rizvan Kuniev by split decision (28-29, 29-28, 29-28)

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Orolbai, though coming into the fight off a loss, had put in a Fight of the Night-winning effort against Mateusz Rebecki in his last outing. Musayev, meanwhile, was debuting at home in his native Azerbaijan, part of the UFC’s first-ever trip to the country.

During the UFC Baku media day, Orolbai, who holds a law degree, promised he’d have a surprise for the fight. Well, Tofiq Musayev was certainly surprised in the end.

The fight started with Orolbai shooting for a takedown just seconds in. He managed to elevate Musayev but couldn’t complete it. After a brief separation, Orolbai shot again and this time secured the takedown. He controlled the top position for a while before both fighters returned to their feet with about a minute remaining. Musayev immediately threw a body kick, but Orolbai caught it and used it to land yet another takedown. This time, Musayev left his arm exposed, and Orolbai locked in a kimura, forcing the tap!

That spoiled the debut of Tofiq Musayev; for Orolbai, it’s UFC win #3 overall. His law career will just have to wait for now.

Official Result: Myktybek Orolbai def. Tofiq Musayev by submission (kimura), Round 1, 4:35

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Sadykhov (10-1-1) is one of three Azerbaijani fighters on the UFC roster with Rafael Fiziev and Tofiq Musayev also taking part on this historic card. Sadykhov has yet to take a loss in the UFC, and holds victories over Terrance McKinney, Evan Elder and Ismael Bonfim.

Motta (15-5) came into the fight with two consecutive victories under his belt. He holds victories over Maheshate, Tom Nolan, and Cameron VanCamp.

Round 1 Sadykhov was super intense in the cage after making his entrance. Sadykhov was bouncy early on and technical with his movement and footwork. Sadykhov landed a couple solid body kicks, and ate one as well.

Both men were throwing with a lot of power. Motta rushed Sadykhov on the fence and went off with with every single shot he could think of throwing. Sadykhov bought himself time protecting himself with a high guard.

Motta may have punched himself out a bit because Sadykhov fired right back at him and put him on the fence landing heavy shots to the body and head. The insanity of the round was matched only by the crowd noise who were supporting Sadykhov.

The end of the round came in the clinch on the fence as Sadykhov landed two nasty elbows at the buzzer.

Round 2 Sadykhov came with the pressure early on and Motta had to earn some respect with strikes. Sadykhov slowed down and fought smart, but still very aggressive.

Both men landed shots to break body parts in this round. Sadykhov focused a lot on body shots, but did land a shot up top that cut Motta wide open.

The pace of the action alone probably gave sea-level Cain Velasquez nightmare.

Finally in the second round Sadykhov landed a clean and heavy right hand that dropped Motta and ended the fight. Big time win for Nazim Sadykhov.

Official Result: Nazim Sadykhov def. Nikolas Motta via R2 TKO, 4:17

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The fight got off to a hot start to say the least. Naimov had Grad hurt about 90 seconds into the opening round, with Naimov’s creative striking, including a spinning hook kick, being the difference maker. Grad, in danger, hit a key takedown, buying himself some recovery time. The kick had been just a little long, with the heel landing past Grad’s head and the calf doing most of the impact. Otherwise, it might have been a real early night for Grad.

Instead, he recovered, though Naimov would get back to his feet. There, the pair would eventually tie up along the fence, Grad working the body with knees and adding punches to Naimov’s thigh. Naimov fought off the takedown, however, a small boost to the morale no doubt.

In round two, Grad advanced early, with Naimov briefly circling outside before coming off the fence, looking to close the distance. Grad fired a right hand, then lunged in on another attack that forced Naimov to beat a hasty retreat. Two minutes in, Grad would change levels for a takedown, though tripped up a little on the way in. He stayed on the single leg, Naimov keeping a wide stance and fighting hands when Grad latched on with a body lock. Solid defense was on display as Naimov continued to keep the fight standing.

Naimov would counter the next takedown attempt with a guillotine, though the submission wasn’t to be had. Instead, Grad spun Naimov around after switching to a single leg, went back to a double leg, and finally landed it – with all of five seconds left on the clock.

It was Muhammad Naimov getting on top in the third round, after a Bogdan Grad takedown attempt backfired. Naimov couldn’t find a finish there, however, and Grad would end up back on the feet. That’s where the fight would end, the judges being required once again. All three would score it 29-28 for Naimov.

Naimov’s record in the UFC now stands at 5-1; he’s won two straight.

Official Result: Muhammad Naimov def. Bogdan Grad by unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)

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Ko was making his promotional debut in the bout, while Elliott, known as “The Welsh Gangster,” had put together a 3-0 run inside the octagon to start his UFC career.

The fight opened with Elliott throwing a high kick as Ko pressed forward. Though the kick missed, Elliott followed up with a right hand that led into a brief clinch exchange. Nothing significant came from the tie-up, and Ko resumed pressing the action. Despite his aggression, Ko was missing wildly with his strikes, which allowed Elliott to duck under a punch and initiate another clinch. This time, Ko used a pair of hip throws to reverse position, ending up in top control. Elliott eventually worked his way back to his feet but absorbed a few clean shots during the process. With about a minute remaining, Elliott appeared a bit deflated but managed to control Ko against the fence for the remainder of the round.

Round two began with Ko throwing a spinning elbow that missed by a wide margin. Despite his inaccuracy, Ko was the more active fighter, consistently pressuring and out-throwing Elliott. When Elliott shot for a single leg, Ko impressively sprawled and reversed into top position. He draped over Elliott’s back, landing heavy shots to the side of the head. Elliott managed to stand, but Ko dragged him back down and began working from half guard, landing short punches and elbows. Elliott recovered full guard but gave up his back in the process. Ko cranked on a face lock before Elliott turned back into him. It was a tough round for Elliott, as he was overwhelmed on the mat and outmuscled in the grappling exchanges.

In the final round, Elliott allowed Ko to press him against the fence. While he secured double underhooks in the clinch, it opened the door for Ko to launch him to the mat once again. Elliott found himself in the same compromising position as round two, this time bleeding from a cut above his left eye caused by an elbow. Ko advanced to side control, but Elliott scrambled back to his feet—only to be taken down again. Ko maintained heavy top pressure, smothering Elliott and sealing another dominant round.

Official Result: Seok-hyun Ko def. Oban Elliott via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)

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